Rwanda National Police

A man identified as Straton Rusingiza, 32, was arrested on April 6, in Kirehe District where he was masquarading as an employee of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and defrauding unwitting members of the public.

Rusingiza was arrested in Rushenyi village, Nyakabungo cell in Mpanga Sector where he was fleecing residents promising to provide electricity to their homes. He is a resident of Nyamabuye Sector also in Kerehe District.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police Spokesperson for the Eastern Region, said Rusingiza had already fleeced eight people by the time of his arrest.

"He was posing as REG employee and falsely promising electricity connectivity with a charge  Frw10,000 per person . Some of the victims, later suspected him to be a conman after he failed to deliver, and reported him to the Police which led to his arrest," CIP Twizeyimana said.

Article 174 of law nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general, any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence. 

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.

Impersonation, under article 279, attracts an imprisonment of between two and three years and a fine of between Rwf300, 000 and Frw500, 000.